Samsung PN51E450

Best cheap 720p plasma.

Cnet rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

The good: The inexpensive PNE450 series plasma TV is a well-rounded performer with deep black levels for the money and decent shadow detail. Color saturation is one of the TV's high points. The E450 uses less power than most plasmas its size.

The bad: The image washes out quite a bit in normal room lighting. The picture processing suffers from poor compatibility with 24p and 1080i material, and this could be symptomatic of the TV's low 720p resolution. Color accuracy is poor.

The cost: $494 to $698

The bottom line: The Samsung E450 series plasma may not be perfect, but you won't find another TV that performs this well for this low a price.

The good: The inexpensive TC-PU50 series in its superb picture quality surpasses many TVs costing hundreds more. Its black levels can get as deep as any but those of the very best plasma TVs. Color is accurate, off-angle viewing and uniformity are perfect, and its Cinema picture setting requires very little adjustment for optimal quality. There's a rare SD card slot for photo viewing.

The bad: The TC-PU50 washes out in bright room lighting, and it can't get as bright in its most accurate picture mode as some plasmas this size. It has just two HDMI inputs. It also uses significantly more power than a like-size LCD or LED TV.

The cost: $698 to $900

The bottom line: A low price, excellent picture quality and bare-bones features make the Panasonic TC-PU50 series a superb entry-level plasma TV value.

Samsung PNE550 series

Best cheap 1080p plasma with 3-D and Smart TV.

Cnet rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

The good: The PNE550 plasma TV is an excellent value for this level of performance and features. Its picture quality is anchored by solid black levels, accurate color and perfect off-angle viewing and uniformity. It boasts the industry's most capable Smart TV platform featuring exclusive access to HBO Go. Samsung includes two pairs of 3-D glasses.

The bad: The image of the PNE550 washes out significantly in normal room lighting. It can't match the black-level performance of the best like-priced plasmas. Its 3-D performance is mediocre and the glasses feel cheap. The PNE550 also uses significantly more power than a like-size LCD or LED TV.

The cost: $848 to $948

The bottom line: While not quite the best in its class, the Samsung PNE550 plasma still merits a look with its very good picture quality, sophisticated Smart TV platform and attractive price.

Panasonic TC-P50UT50

Best overall value.

Cnet rating: 4 stars out of 5

The good: In pure dollar-for-performance terms the TC-PUT50 series is one of the best TVs we've seen, with astounding picture quality for the money. Black levels are the equal of Panasonic's ST50 series in a darkened room, shadow detail is very good and colors are accurate. Unlike an LCD, as a plasma TV it has superb off-angle and uniformity characteristics. Despite the low price, the PUT50 is still studded with the latest features, including 3-D and Smart TV.

The bad: The PUT50 series doesn't perform very well in a lit room, with blacks becoming muddy and indistinct. The performance of 3-D is only passable, with distinct ghosting effects. The TV lacks advanced setup controls, which makes getting a better picture almost impossible. With only three video inputs, it's not suited to users with lots of gear.

The cost: $829 to $1,100

The bottom line: The Panasonic TC-P50UT50 plasma TV nearly matches the world-beating picture quality of the ST50 series, at an even lower price.